Praying in the Power of the Spirit
Month 8: Talking with God — The Praying Family · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Jude 20 & Acts 4:31
20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, — Jude 20
31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. — Acts 4:31
Memory Verse
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”— Philippians 4:6 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Lamentations 3–5
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time.The Heart of It
Did you know we don't have to pray in our own strength? Jude gives believers a wonderful instruction: "building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit" (). The Holy Spirit lives inside everyone who belongs to Jesus. And He actually helps us pray. He stirs us up. He gives us the words. He reminds us what to ask. He even prays through us when we don't know how (remember ). Prayer isn't a tired duty we drag ourselves through. It's meant to be a living conversation, carried along by God's own Spirit within us.
Look at what happened in . The believers prayed together, and "the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." Notice the pattern. They prayed. The Spirit filled them. Then they went out bold to speak about Jesus. This is the heart of the Spirit-filled life. It's not noise or show. It's real courage and power for witness. And here's something precious for our family. The Holy Spirit's help isn't only for famous preachers. When you ask Jesus to fill you with His Spirit (), He gives you the very same Helper who shook that room. The goal is never to look impressive. It's to become more like Jesus and braver for Him. Character first, always. Then comes power that flows from a heart that loves God.
Around the Table
When we don't know what to say, God's Helper, the Holy Spirit, helps us pray! We're never on our own.
Let's do it: Hand on your heart and pray, "Holy Spirit, help me pray and help me be brave for Jesus!"
In Acts, the believers prayed. The Spirit filled them. Then they got brave to talk about Jesus. The Spirit gives us power too.
Let's talk: What's something brave you'd like the Holy Spirit to help you do this week?
Jesus wants to fill us with His Spirit. That brings power for witness and help to pray. But the aim is Christlike character, never showing off.
Let's go deeper: Why do you think being "filled with the Spirit" led to boldness and not just good feelings? (See .)
💬 Conversation Starter
When was the last time you felt braver than you expected to be? Could that have been the Holy Spirit giving you courage?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know the Holy Spirit really empowers ordinary people? Look at . Terrified disciples who'd been hiding became fearless witnesses overnight. And history shows that boldness rippled across the whole Roman world. Frightened people don't suddenly face prison and death for a story. Not unless something real changed them. The Spirit's power is verified by the church it built.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching understands "praying in the Holy Spirit" as Spirit-empowered, Spirit-assisted prayer. For many, that includes the gift of praying in tongues as a means of personal edification (). Whatever your conviction on the particulars, the principle in is for every believer. You are not meant to pray alone or in raw willpower. Here's the honest part, Dad. You cannot lead your family into Spirit-filled prayer that you are not living yourself. Robert Menzies reminds us that the Pentecostal experience is fundamentally about empowerment for mission, not personal hype. So before you call your kids to pray boldly, ask the Father to fill you afresh. He loves to (). Then let them see a dad whose courage clearly comes from somewhere beyond himself.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story; Derek Prince, Secrets of a Prayer Warrior.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, fill us again with Your Holy Spirit. Help us pray when we don't have the words. Make us bold to speak about Jesus. Grow Christ's character in us. Let any power we have come straight from You. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't pray in my own strength. God's Spirit helps me pray and makes me brave for Jesus.